Tiger Week

Missions are so strange. It's non-stop just doing things that I've
never done (or never really wanted to do) and loving it!

We went to Leipzig for interviews with President Fingerle and I stayed
there for another day on companion exchange. Too many stories to write
out... here's a recap
1. Went out finding around a random neighborhood while waiting for interviews
2. Talked to some Jungs (guys, but a way better word) gonna play
soccer with them.
3. Talked to another Jung... he told us all about how he believes that
aliens created us. And then we discovered his questionable looking
cigarette was indeed what we suspected.
4. Talked to an old lady. Then looked at the time and realized that we
had to go back. So we had to awkwardly follow the lady because she was
walking the same direction as us.

Next day in Leipzig was an adventure again! We had a street display.
(I hope I can track down pictures.) we wrote on the ground, "was
sind'n Mormonen?" Which roughly translated to "what even are
mormons?!" As you can imagine, we got some pretty wacky answers. We at
least got some good laughs from strangers, and nobody called us JWs
the whole day!

The next day Elder Hsu and I were swindled into running a 6k relay.
The missionaries often get volunteered to do things, so I shouldn't be
too surprised. It was a good experience, team motto was "get passed,
but don't get last." I don't really know how it applied to mission
work, but the lady that we ran with bore her testimony about it, so
that's success right there.

Next day we played basketball with the Chinese crew again. Fantastic
as always! And then on Sunday all of our Chinese friends showed up to
church! Elder Hsu and I were both so happy, we went and bore our
testimonies in Chinese. (His Chinese was a lot better than mine).

Just realized that this email is way too long and probably none of you
are going to read it. But I'll leave you with something that I've said
in Chinese countless times this week... I know that God exists. I know
that because I have seen, and felt, and read, and know too many things
to ever deny it. God exists, and you can find that out if you ask and
pray. Look around at this springtime, enjoy the beautiful flowers and
the green grass; and as you look around and enjoy a moment of peace,
remember the story of Elijah...

11 ...And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind
rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but
the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but
the Lord was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire:
and after the fire a still small voice.ii

Take a moment to listen to that voice.

I love you all,
Elder Openshaw

1. The member missionary crew (seriously the best collection of people
you'll ever see.) (shout out to Eva going to London south, she'll be a
great missionary!)
2. For Elder Mexico
3. Relay crew